WEBVTT IN APRIL. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER RULED THE DEATH A HOMICIDE. WHETHER IT WAS THE RESULT OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. > TERRILL THOMAS MADE HEADLINES LAST APRIL AFTER HE OPENED FIRE INSIDE POTTAWATOMIE CASINO. AT THE TIME, HIS FAMILY TOLD US THEY'D ASKED POLICE TO ARREST HIM BECAUSE OF HIS VIOLENT AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. >> I ASKED THEM PLEASE TAKE HIM TO JAIL. I SAID HE'S HAVING THIS NERVOUS BREAKDOWN AGAIN. >> BEFORE SHOOTING UP THE CASINO , HE SHUT HIS BEST FRIEND. POLICE TOOK HIM TO JAIL NINE DAY . NINE DAYS LATER GUARDS FOUND , THOMAS DEAD IN HIS JAIL CELL. >> WE HAD THE FUNERAL THAT SATURDAY. >> THOMAS' DAD DIDN'T WANT HIS FACE ON CAMERA BUT SAYS SINCE , HIS SON'S DEATH THE ONLY EXPLANATION THE FAMILY HAS GOTTEN CAME VIA INMATES. >> THOSE INMATES DOWN THERE SAID HE WAS ACTING ERRATICALLY. >> HE WAS FLOODING THE TOILET AND THROWING PAPER IN THERE. >> POLICE TELL 12 NEWS THAT PROMPTED JAILERS RESTRICT THOMAS' ACCESS TO WATER. THE ME SAYS THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO HIS BODY, BUT BIOCHEMISTRY TESTING REVEALED PROFOUND DEHYDRATION. HIS DAD IS DEVASTATED. >> I'M SAYING HE SHOULDN'T HAVE EVER BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT AT THE MENTAL COMPLEX GETTING TREATMENT. >> THE FAMILY IS TALKING TO A LAWYER AND MILWAUKEE POLICE ARE , CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION TO AVOID A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE JAIL IS RUN BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. HE WON'T COMMENT TILL ALL INVESTIGATIONS AND POTENTIAL LAWSUITS ARE COMPLETED.

Prosecutors consider felony charges in inmate's death

Terrill Thomas' April 2016 jail death was ruled a homicide

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 9:07 AM CST Mar 9, 2017

MILWAUKEE —

Milwaukee County prosecutors are considering felony charges against jail staff on duty when an inmate died of dehydration, court documents show.

Thirty-eight-year-old Terrill Thomas was incarcerated at the downtown Milwaukee jail when he died in April 2016. Other inmates told investigators the water was shut off to Thomas' cell after he had flooded a previous cell.

Assistant District Attorney Kurt Benkley wrote in the motion that the law must strictly require jailors to safeguard lives in their care and that "stupidity, thoughtlessness, indifference and incompetence" are not valid legal defenses.